Brimming with excitement, hundreds of music fans queued around the block in the bitter February cold to get the chance to see pop sensations JLS live.
The band, who shot to fame as the runners-up of 2008's X-Factor, performed in front of a sell-out crowd at The Regent Theatre in Ipswich last night.
Groups of teenagers wearing JLS jumpers and T-shirts, some waving homemade banners and posters, waited, screaming with huge smiles on their faces for the theatre's doors to open.
For some the wait had lasted the whole afternoon, with dozens of fans turning up at noon to try to catch a glimpse of the band as they arrived. 
Becky Manning, 22, of Claydon said she was overcome with “14-year-old like excitement”.
Wearing their 'I love JLS' T-shirts, she and her friends said they had been “massive fans” of the group since their first X-Factor audition.
And younger fans, Tiana Bailey, ten, and Rochelle Scoulding, nine, from Ipswich, who were there with their mothers, said they had been “waiting forever” to get their chance to see the band live.
Rochelle said: “I am really, really excited. I have been waiting forever - for months and months. We are their biggest fans, Aston is so cute.
“I wish I was in my 20s then I could marry them.”
Another fan, Natalie Osborne, 18, travelled from college in Cambridge with her friends to get to the gig on time.
She said: “I am seriously excited. I could not sleep last night, I was so excited.”
Braving the cold, those lucky enough to have secured a ticket waited in line for hours, in a long queue snaking around the Odeon cinema and up Woodbridge Road.
Meanwhile, fans Emily Hall and Emma Hinds enjoyed a pre-gig treat when they bumped into the band on the Waterfront.
JLS had been eating lunch at the Salt House Harbour Hotel when the lads agreed to pose for a picture.
Did you see JLS in action? How did you rate their performance? Write to Your Letters, Evening Star, 30 Lower Brook Street, Ipswich, IP4 1AN or e-mail eveningstarletters@eveningstar.co.uk
JLS FastFacts: - JLS stands for Jack the Lad, Swing
- The group is made up of Aston Merrygold, Marvin Humes, Jonathan “JB” Gill, and Oritsé Williams.
- They rose to fame during the 2008 X-Factor talent show, mentored by Louis Walsh and voted runners-up to Alexandra Burke.
- The group are nominated at this year's Brit Awards for Best Single for 'Beat Again', their debut single which went straight to number one in July last year.
- Their second single 'Everybody in Love' followed the success of their first reaching number one in November 2009, selling more than 120,000 copies in the first week.
More links:
|
IPSWICH: Is anybody in love? Well everybody in the audience of the packed Ipswich Regent certainly was last night, when JLS, the X Factor Finalists turned pop sensations, stormed into town.
With their trademark colours of blue (Aston), red (Oritse), green (Marvin) and yellow (JB), these four London lads lit up an otherwise glum February evening.
Considering it was the first night of the tour and there surely must have been some pre-show nerves, JLS were all outstanding and it will take some stamina to maintain that level of enthusiasm for the rest of their sell-out tour.
It's rare to find a boy band where all four members can actually sing and dance fantastically well, and that's what sets JLS apart.
The Michael Jackson medley enabled them to take a song each, make it their own and wow the predominately pre-teen audience.
Effortlessly charming the audience with their patter and good looks (particularly when Marvin and Aston kept revealing carefully honed torsos), Ipswich went wild for hits such as 'Beat Again' and the new single 'One Shot'.
Aston's back-flips were something to behold, and the harmonising of their a cappella version of the East 17 classic 'If I Ever' was note perfect.
JLS are here to stay, and with the announcement this week of a planned arena tour at the end of the year, two Brit award nominations and American record companies battling to sign them up stateside, it's easy to see why.
EMMA NOYE
|
On a night cold enough to bring tears to even the Arctic Monkeys’ eyes, it was good to be part of an eager crowd at the St Nicholas Centre in Ipswich to witness and indeed participate in, a gig by Glenn Tilbrook, performing as a solo artist. Tilbrook, best known for being one half of the Squeeze song-writing duo along with Chris Difford, produced an energetic set composed of songs from the Squeeze back catalogue and choice covers. Tilbrook was well supported by Steve from The Raglans, a likeable Irishman, who also performed a solo set by default as the rest of his band has mysteriously failed to arrive. Tilbrook arrived on stage from out of the audience. Resplendent in pinstripe jacket and polka dot scarf, he launched into ‘Take Me I’m Yours’ and we were transported back more than 30 years to when most of the audience were in their late teens. The St Nicholas Centre provided an excellent venue for this type of gig. Large enough to hold a worthwhile crowd, it is small enough to produce a genuine bond between audience and performer. Audience participation was a strong theme of the evening. At one point, a song was chosen by asking three members of the audience to select random notes from the guitar fretboard, while ‘Hourglass’ appeared to be performed at the request of a man sitting behind me. There were frequent sing-alongs, most notably to ‘Black Coffee in Bed’. Tilbrook, who is a purveyor of sublime English pop, was never afraid to dip into other people’s songs. Covers included The Beatles’ ‘Can’t Do That’ and James Brown’s ‘I Feel Good.’ After an hour and a half on stage, we were treated to a three song encore, finishing off with a rousing rendition of ‘Pulling Mussels from a Shell’. It was a nice touch to send us back out into the freezing night air with a song about summer holidays. After more than 30 years in the business, Tilbrook’s appetite for performing appears undiminished. Following this excellent evening’s entertainment, I’m sure those present hope that continues for another 30! (Provided by Steve Roberts)
|
When on stage he bobs and weaves like a boxer and last night Ian Brown received a champion's reception from an adoring crowd at the Ipswich Regent.
 Swaggering into the spotlight to a rapturous round of applause, the ex-Stone Roses frontman began the evening with an unexpected gag about hospitals before launching into a 90 minute set of tracks all taken from his six studio albums, with one notable exception.
Of course, the slick encore performance of Fools Gold - the only song of the night originally performed by his former band - was the obvious highlight for the majority in the theatre.
Brown has inspired a legion of imitators and wannabes but this was the real thing, making his first appearance in Ipswich and turning back time for the many thirty-something men in the crowd who cheered on the hero of their teenage years.
After opening with Love Like a Fountain, Golden Gaze and All Ablaze, his impressive five-piece band continued to provided deep baselines, mariachi trumpets and nimble percussion alongside stirring string samples that helped bring out the best of his limited vocal range.
On this showing he would hardly warrant a minute of the X Factor judges' time, but it was never his voice that has made Brown such a magnetic performer.
His lyrics aren't much better, often making little sense, but by including a trio of energetic dancers in his onstage line-up and simply letting go and enjoying himself, somehow it all works.
When he gets it all right, such as with F.E.A.R. or Stellify, from his latest album My Way, even now, 20 years after the glory days of Madchester, he is worthy of the iconic status bestowed upon him. Click here for more photos
|
 Early reviews of Alesha Dixon’s current tour painted a picture of a strictly professional, glitzy but slightly short show.
Her opening night clocked in at little more than an hour and apparently lacked a bit of heart. Whatever The Alesha Show had been, it certainly wasn’t soulless at Ipswich. There was a long delay before we saw the star – a couple of serviceable support acts had to do until 9pm. When she got to the stage, it was worth the wait: she sure can dance, as her 2007 Strictly Come Dancing victory showed. And she can sing, too, although some styles suit her better than others. Most of Alesha’s songs were drawn from her current album. A new single, To Love Again, was co-composed with Gary Barlow; Don't Ever Let Me Go got everyone on their feet and Breathe Slow was suitably emotional. The show began with Ms Dixon on a swing, in spangly silver shorts, a black hat perched on her head and a cane in her hand. The opening quarter of an hour set a high standard for energy and material, which was mostly funk, right down to a segue into James Brown’s Get Up. Dixon was accompanied by two dancers, who would gradually reveal themselves to be rather well-muscled. They began the night in some well choreographed routines with the star, both in top hat and tails, rather like some moonwalking Artful Dodgers Costumes could have come from the wardrobe of Strictly, and routines were suitably intricate, including some dazzling work with the top hat and cane. A revealing segment midway through, the “Mis-teeq Zone”, showed us the more urban material to which her voice seems better suited and she looked more at home in that genre. The biggest song – and the best routine – was saved for the encore: a spirited romp through The Boy Does Nothing. It summed up her appeal as the all-round middle-of-the-road family entertainer that she’s become over the past couple of years. There’s a big market for Dixon’s kind of talent and the fans appeared to love it. Mark Crossley Evening Star - 10.11.09
|
A large majority of the Regent’s audience would have probably been more familiar with watching Simon Amstell interview pop stars on T4’s Popworld, or hosting the popular comedy quiz show, Never Mind The Buzzcocks. However on Friday night, it was his chance to shine as a solo comic performing stand-up, and I don’t know if he actually had the audience with him all the way. The show focused on his loneliness, insecurities, and hapless encounters in his search for his perfect man-which is ‘young, skinny and vulnerable’. His intelligent, confessional humour, was weaved superbly into his stories, which revealed that Amstell, like many comedians, is an incredibly self-deprecating and introspective character. Much of what he observes are situations that most people could relate to, like not living in the moment (as he ran down the Champs Elysees thinking ‘this will make a good memory’), and putting up with going to the same nightclub in Romford, Essex, for three years, not realising how close London was. Despite many laughs, it did not feel that he was really connecting with the audience, and vice versa. Perhaps it was his pre-conceived ideas about Ipswich that did not make us fall in love with him. When a joke about the BNP did not get a massive laugh, Amstell then began implying we were ‘his’ (Nick Griffin’s) followers. Not the best way to get everyone on board. Or maybe it was the fact that he was slightly out of his comfort zone, and is yet to find his feet as a big-name comedian, coping with large crowds like Ricky Gervais. Whatever the reason, there is certainly plenty to look forward to from Amstell as he is incredibly talented and can only improve with experience. A special mention must go out to his support act, Arnab Chanda, who was one of the best warm-up comedians I have ever seen. So enjoyable was his set that you almost forgot Amstell was due on. Definitely one to watch out for. Naomi Gornall Evening Star - 09.11.09
|
Okay, so it’s a real guilty pleasure – but there really is nothing like Steve Steinman’s concoction of classic rock numbers, over-the-top costumes, and frankly crude humour to reduce middle-aged rockers and their teenage kids to the same level! Every year the show comes back and it’s tweaked a bit to make it more interesting – but every year there’s enough of the same to satisfy the punters who know what they want and want it loud! 
This year we were introduced to Bosley the janitor who makes old man Steptoe look like a cultural icon! The mix of songs was also re-jigged slightly with a heavy emphasis this year on AC/DC numbers – but then that band has been enjoying something of a revival over the last few months. From the opening bars of Thunderstruck through to the last encore of Knocking of Heaven’s Door this was a night that rocked the Regent to its rafters and delighted the capacity audience. Emily Clark once again provided the glamour and showed how to belt out Bonnie Tyler hits almost as good as Bonnie herself. But the real star of the show was once again Toyah Wilcox who returned as the Devil Queen and stopped the show with every number. She may be an eighties icon, but as the noughties come to an end she proved she can still deliver the big numbers – even if they aren’t her own! With a fine band to back them up and the kind of go-go dancers that you really should disapprove of, as I say this show is a real guilty pleasure – but it’s something I wouldn’t miss for the world at this time of the year! Next year Steinman is bringing something new to the Regent – he’s touring with an Australian musical in the spring, Bad Boy Johnny & The Prophets of Doom. Ipswich is one of only a handful of regional theatres that will be used at test-beds for this show. Few in this weekend’s audience will delay long before buying their tickets! Paul Geater Evening Star (09.11.09)
|
IPSWICH; This is the third generation of the Electric Light Orchestra – but they showed to an appreciative audience last night that they remain fine musicians with a distinctive sound. 
The days of Jeff Lynne and Bev Bevan might have long gone – but Phil Bates in full flight looks and sounds much like the iconic frontman and few at the Regent last night were left complaining.
The Orchestra is the offspring of ELO Part Two which was the offspring of the original band, and it looked and sounded best when the great hits from the 1970s and early 1980s were being played.
But the six-piece band seemed determined they were more than a tribute band – playing new material as well as old Beatles numbers.
An extraordinary version of Twist and Shout still has me wondering whether I loved or hated it!
But somehow all the other numbers paled into insignificance in comparison with the hits of ELO that those of a certain age grew up with.
They may have been the antidote to punk at the time, but their music has lasted well and it was good to hear and see it being played live.
Only Mik Kiminski and Louis Clark may remain from the original band – but the music is timeless and with great musicians like Glenn Burtnik in the band it still has much to offer.
The Regent may not have been full last night, but those who were there enjoyed a great night of music. Paul Geater - Evening Star
|
Hundreds of people descended on a public house at the weekend as it staged its annual fundraising music festival. This year’s Bullfest, held at The Olde Bull Inn at Barton Mills, near Mildenhall, took place on Saturday to raise cash for the East Anglian Air Ambulance and the Nicky’s Way programme at St Nicholas Hospice in Bury St Edmunds. 
Bands from across the region, including the Taildraggers Blues Band, The Beatroots, Morning Wood and The Wigsville Spliffs, took part in the festival. The Bull’s manager Sonia Hickman said more than 1,200 people came to the festival during the day and the amount raised was expected to be in the region of £1,500. “It was a really good day,” she said. “Everybody had a good time and the bands, which gave up their own time for chartity, were excellent.” See more pictures here
|
Hundreds of people enjoyed a skate jam which was held alongside a live music event in Leiston. The event took place for the second year running and included skateboard and BMX competitions during the sunny weather on Sunday afternoon. 
Skaters and BMX riders take part in the skate jam at Leiston Skate Park The music was part of the Soundwaves Project, run by Suffolk Coastal District Council, which aims to find musical talent among 13 to 26-year-olds from the area. The bands showcased included Containz Nutz, To The Dogs, Hollotones and Mainstream Daydream. The skate jam was sponsored by Smash Skates in Beccles and the overall winners were Mikee Jarvis on the skateboard and Liam Cracknell on his BMX. There will be a second skate jam and final venue for the Soundwaves summer tour at Woodbridge skate park on September 6 from 1-6pm.
|
More than 40 drummers kept drumming for 24 hours to raise money for three charities – and it was such a success it is to become a yearly event. 
Drumming it home: Organiser Dan Jacobs on the drums with some of the 40 drummers who kept going for 24hrs outside Tesco in Martlesham The ‘Drumathon’ took place at Tesco’s Martlesham, with organiser Dan Jacobs and his brother Alex kicking off at 6pm on Friday. With more support than anticipated Mr Jacobs, 34, a drum teacher, introduced a third drum kit to give everyone a chance to play. He said the event had gone even better than he ever imagined, with a ten second countdown just before 6pm on Saturday to signal their success. “Everything went extremely well,” he said. “A lot of people were a bit nervous to start with, but once they got going it was all great. “Everyone really, really enjoyed themselves playing to a good crowd that gathered at the event.” Each drummer was required to raise money before the event putting the grand total raised over the 24-hour period at £1,730.57. The money will be split between three charities, the Teenage Cancer Trust, the Paul Brook Trust, supporting pancreatic cancer and Possibilities which supports Ugandan orphans. The three drum kits were set up underneath a marquee in the supermarket car park, and due to the wonderful weather some spectators stayed to watch into the early hours of Saturday morning. Mr Jacobs added: “We did get really tired; I was a zombie when I got home but it was great, we are going to try and make it an annual event.” Local band Don Shimoa took their turn on the kits, playing a great set to entertain the weary drummers. Links: More Photos www.dansdrumlessons.com
|
THOUSANDS of music lovers enjoying a perfect summer festival full of sunshine and live music at Halesworth’s Gig In The Park this weekend. 
The event, which kicked off on Friday evening, saw record-breaking crowds head to the town park over the weekend to enjoy the variety of music on offer. Among about 70 acts performing Frontbum who entertained the crowd with their full arena show and alternative look at Halesworth life on Friday night. This year, the festival boasted three stages for the first time in its 12-year history, with an intermediate stage in place next to the main stage to show acts during the turnaround of the headliners. Musical highlights included a performance on Saturday night by Squeeze star Glenn Tilbrook, who performed many of the bands old favourites with his new group The Fluffers. Cockney rockers Chas N’ Dave were also due to perform on Saturday night, but Dave was unable to make it to the event due to a family bereavement, leaving Chas to perform alone with their band. Organiser John Marshall Potter said: “The beautiful weather has certainly helped us this year. Friday night was by far the biggest we’ve ever had and Saturday was also sold out. “We’ve had a completely eclectic mix of music on offer so there has been something for everyone, which I think is what makes the festival so popular.” 
Secret Cinema perform at Gig in the park at Halesworth Some of the local talent on show included Norwich-based pop-punk group The Brownies, Lowestoft grunge band Six Degrees of Separation and The Fuzz, a young band from Bungay Lowestoft band The Darkness’ old drummer Ed Graham’s new band Karaoke For Beginners also performed for the festival crowds. Mr Marshall Potter said that the event has grown in popularity and become an important part of the town’s calendar. “The reason it’s so successful is that the people of Halesworth have taken ownership of the event and love it. “Our tag line this year has been ‘Halesworth’s got talent’ and with a lot of local bands performing, we’ve proved that. We couldn’t do it without the great local support and the volunteers who give up their time to help us year after year.”
|
There was sunshine, thousands of visitors, a host of performers and even a wedding reception at an annual music festival. About 4,500 people flocked to the Kesgrave Music Festival on Saturday for the fundraiser in aid of St Elizabeth Hospice. Bands including The Glamtastics, The Inflatables, Rockface and the Gordon Bennett Band performed at the all-day event. 
The event was launched in 2006 in memory of Kate Moyes, who had lost her battle with cancer at St Elizabeth Hospice a year earlier at the age of 29. It is not known yet how much money has been raised from this year’s festival but most of it will go to the hospice, with the remaining sum being donated to East Anglia’s Children’s Hospices. The fund in Kate’s memory currently stands at £36,000. Debbie McCallum, one of the festival’s organisers and landlady of The Bell pub in Kesgrave, said the day had been “absolutely fantastic”. She added: “The festival is our way of commemorating Kate’s life. She has left a legacy behind for the community.” Among the festival-goers were newly-weds Caroline Goldsworthy and Andy Hanster, who had been married in Kesgrave earlier in the day. 
They held their wedding reception in a marquee at the event and they even had their first dance on stage, to T-Rex’s We Love to Boogie, performed by the Glamtastics.
|
Comedian Adrian Edmondson and his band The Bad Shepherds proved a big hit at this year’s Hachfest live music festival. Thousands flocked to the three-day event with even the torrential rain on Saturday night failing to dampen the festival spirit. 
The comedian and his band were among the acts taking part on Friday night with more than 1,000 people turning up to watch. Those behind the annual event at Mutimer’s Meadow in Hatcheston, near Woodbridge, were thrilled with attendances on all three days. Faye Skinner, one of the organisers, said: “It’s been absolutely fantastic. We have had around 3,500 people and the atmosphere has been amazing. “Even in the big downpour on Saturday people were still dancing with their brollies and being very British. It was a proper festival spirit. “It’s really been a team effort to put this on. The whole team have been fantastic.” All genres of music were catered for during Hachfest 2009 including folk, punk and reggae. Saturday and yesterday was the chance for local musicians to showcase their talents. Charities will also benefit from the fundraising at the festival. Links
|
MORE than 300 people enjoyed music played in an idyllic west Suffolk setting on Saturday evening. Families picnicked on the green at Cavendish as bands Route 66 and Balls Hit entertained them, performing a combination of rock classics and modern hits. Organiser Arthur Kemp, aged 77, said one short downpour was not enough to dampen the spirits of the audience who stayed on late into the night. He said: “Everyone – from children to oldies like me – loves rock music. We had to extend a little bit beyond our 11 o’clock deadline as the crowd demanded an encore.” The event raised over £300, which will go to the village’s primary and nursery schools. See the photos here
|
|
|
